Mayor backs national ID system

BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan welcomes approval of the Philippine Identification System Act which is meant to speed up and improve the delivery of government services and reduce fraudulent transactions.

In the weekly Ugnayang Panglunsod, Domogan said the timely passage of the law will be used as a centralized form of identification system.

“Well, we have our own BIR, SSS identification cards and there have been no opposition to it, and now that this will be centralized. This is ok with me,” the mayor said.

The Philippine Identification System Act was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, August 6 which will be seeking to create a unified and streamlined national identification system.

The new law establishes the Philippine ID System or PhilSys, a centralized database for vital information on all residents and resident aliens in the Philipines.

“The other side is saying that this maybe used for another purpose. Why should we always start with the negative rather than the positive? All of you are being required, even to have a cedula which could be used for our identification,” Domogan explained.

The physical national ID or Phil ID will be issued to each individual who registers with the system with each person getting a randomly generated, unique, and permanent ID number or Common Reference Number (CRN).

Personal data to be collected for the national ID will include name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and address. Biometrics information will also be collected, including facial image, full set of fingerprints, iris scan, and other identifiable features that are necessary, while it would be optional for a person to give his or her own mobile number and email address.

On the issue on the breach of confidentiality, Domogan believes there will be no violation since the data being required are all basic information of a person.

“I do not think so because just like our drivers licenses, there are details needed and could that be considered as a breach of confidentiality? The data that will be placed there are all basic like your name, date of birth, and address,” the mayor added.

The Phil ID can be used when dealing with national government agencies, local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and the private sector.

Registration for the ID will be free of charge. Filipinos living abroad may sign up for their national ID with the embassy or consular office where they are located.

Under the 2018 national budget, the government allotted P2 billion for the initial implementation of the program, lodged under the Philippine Statistics Authority's budget.